Typographical composing and casting machine



Feb. 13, 1940.

H. BRANDENBURG TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPQSING AND CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov; 2, 19:59

Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED TYPOGRAPHICAL coMPosING AND CASTING MACHINE Hermann Brandenburg, Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany. assigncr to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a company of New York Application November 2, 1939, Serial No. 302,519

w In Germany October 27, 1938 Claims.

This invention relates totypographical composing and casting machines, wherein matrices and spacebands are assembled in line and the v composed line presented to a mold for the casting of a slug or type-bar, and wherein prior to casting, the spacebands are expanded by a socalled justification bar to justify the line. The movement of the justification bar is controlled by a spring in conjunction with a cam mounted on the main camshaft of the machine. The composed lines contain a varying number of spacebands according to the number of words in a line and the iength of the line, but the force exerted by the spring and justification bar against the spacebands is always the same. Consequently, the force which is individually applied to each spaceband is very much reduced when there are a large number of spacebands in the line. The result is that when there are only a few spacebands in the line, too much force is applied so that the spacebands may become damaged. On the other hand when a large number of spacebands are present in. the line, the

force appliedis notalways sufficient to efiect proper justification. I

It has already been proposed to provide means, controlled by a hand or foot lever, for adjusting the tension of the spring acting upon the justification barn Suchan adjustment however, can only be made in accordance with the length of the line as it is obviouslynot practicable for the operator to countthe number of spacebands as-' sembled in every line and then to adjustthe spring to a tension appropriate to the said number. Moreover, the" adjustment of the tension of the spring according to the line length is not effective for the purpose of eliminating the aforesaid disadvantages, because the number of space bands used is not, dependent upon the length of the line.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby a uniformfjustifying pressure upon the spacebands individually will be applied irrespecof the parts of a matrix composing and linecasting machine pertinent to the present invention; and

Figures 2 to 4 show a regulator valve in respectively diiferent positions of adjustment.

The matrix line I is held inthe known manner in the vise frame of the machine between two clamping jaws 2 and 3 adjusted to the line length, there being spacebands 4 between the words in the line. For justifying the line, the justification bar 5 is driven upwardly against the spacebands. The release of the spacebands from a magazine which is not shown in the drawing is efiected'in a known manner by the spaceband key 6 which rocksv about the pivot I when the key is depressed tomove upwardly an escapement reed 8 mounted upon its rear end, which in turn effects in known manner the release of the spacebands which drop into the line." In the constructional form of apparatus according to the invention illustrated in the drawingthe escapement reed 8 is provided with a, contact piece 9, which, when the reed is elevated, that is, when a spaceband is released, connects with a contact l0. Thereby an electrical circuit is closed and current flows from any preferred source of electrical energy l I alongthe lead l2, acrossthe contacts land 9, along the lead 13, through a solenoid M, and along the lead l2 to the source.

The justification bar 5 is mounted on a piston rod l5 which is connected to a piston I! in a cylinder [6. The lower endof the cylinder I! is connected to a 'pipe l8, the other end of which connects with the upper part of a cylinder It; In the cylinder i9 is a plunger 20 which is connected by a link 2! to one arm 22 of a twoarmed lever, which swings about a pivot 23.

At the end of the second arm 24 of the tworoller 25 in contact with the cam 21 and rocks the lever 22, 24 clockwise when so allowed by the cam 21.

Upon the cylinder H1 is mounted a fluid con-' tainer 29, which is connected to the cylinder J9 by means of a non-return valve 3! Fluid may therefore pass by suction from the container 29,

into the cylinder [9, but not in the reverse diby a spring (not shown).

communicates with a second pipe 32 connected to thecylinder by means of a non-return valve 33 through which fluid may enter the pipe 32 from the cylinder I9, but may not flow in the reverse direction. The pipe 32 leads into the interior of a rotatable valve 34, which is in the form of a hollow cylinder closed at one end. This valve is mounted upon a shaft 35, and has a slot 36 formed in a part of its periphery located opposite a recess 37 in the valve casing. To this recess is connected a pipe 33 leading to the container 29.

Loosely mounted on the shaft of the valve 34 is a ratchet wheel 33 with which two pawls 40 and 4| engage. The pawl 40 is mounted on a fixed pivot, and is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring (not shown) so as to prevent backward turning of the ratchet wheel. The pawl 4! is pivotally mounted on a stud 42, and is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel The stud 42 is fast to an arm 43 pivotally mounted on the shaft 35, and the said arm is connected to the core piece of the solenoid I4 by a link 44.

Secured to the ratchet wheel 39 is a coupling disc 45 with which engages a clutch member 43, which is slidable on the shaft 35 but rotatable therewith. The clutch is controlled by the Y forked end of a two-armed lever 47 which is capable of being rocked about the pivot 23 and carries at the end of its second arm a roller 48 bearing on a cam disc 49, mounted on the main cam shaft 23 of the machine.

The operation of the above-described mechanism is as follows:

When a spaceband is released, the contacts 9, I3 are closed, thus allowing the solenoid i l to become energised and the core piece thereof to be raised. 4

Consequently, the arm 43 with the pawl 4| is rocked for a certain distance, for instance to an extent suificient to turn the ratchet wheel 39 by one tooth. Ordinarily, the clutch 45, 46 is engaged and remains in engagement 'so long as the roller 43 bears on the curved surface of the cam disc 43. Therefore, the ratchet wheel 39, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 35, but is coupled to it through the clutch 45, 43, rotates the valve 34, so as gradually to bring the slot 36 out of communication with the recess 31.

Figure 2 shows the position of the valve 34 when the composition of a line is begun. It will be seen that in this position the full length of the slot 36 communicates with the recess 3'1. Figure 3 shows the position of the valve 34 after a few spacebands have been released and assembled. It will be noticed that here a portion only of the slot 36 communicates with the recess 37. Figure 4 finally shows the position of the valve 34- after a maximum number of spacebands has been assembled, and where there is no longer any communication between the interior of the valve 34, and the recess 31 or the pipe 38 connected therewith.

When the composition of the line is completed and the valve 34, through spaceband release, has assumed a position corresponding to a certain number of spacebands, the line is transferred to the first elevator, and justification takes place. The cam 22' by reason of its special contour rocks the lever 22, 34 in an anti-clockwise direction, so pushing the plunger 213 into the cylinder l9, and causing the fluid, preferably oil, in the cylinder 13 to flow through the pipe. l8, into the cylinder IE to raise the piston l1, and move the justification bar 5 against the spacebands 4.

The force with which the piston ii is moved upwardly, that is, the force expended on justification, depends upon the resistance which the pipe 32 or the valve 34 connected to the said pipe, ofiers to the flowing out of the fluid from the cylinder i9. This resistance in turn is dependent on the positionof the slot 36, that is to say the number of spacebands present in the line. Thus the force expended on justification will be automatically regulated in accordance with the number of spacebands present in the line.

The compressed fluid passing through the slot 36 is returned to the container 28 through the pipe 38, and the plunger 20 at its subsequent downward stroke draws out of the container 29 the fluid previouslyinjected through the pipes 32, 38.

The cam 27, as is well known, is'constructed so that a two-stage justification movement takes place, that is to say, the justification bar 5 is lowered after the first upward movement and is again moved upwardly against the spacebands.

When justification has been completed the cam piece 56 of the cam disc 43 comes into contact with the roller 48, thus rocking the-lever 47 in a clockwise direction and disengaging the clutch 46. The valve 34 is thus disconnected from the ratchet wheel 39 and is returned to the initial position shown in Figure 2 by means of a spring 52 connected to an arm 5! fixed to the shaft 35. In the said initial position the arm 5| rests against a stop 53.

In the above described construction, justification is efiected by hydraulic or pneumatic means. Obviously, mechanical or electrical means can be provided for moving the justification bar in which case, the electrical or mechanical force imparted to the justification bar must be adjusted in accordance with the number of spacebands which have been assembled.

The pump cylinder l3 must be made of such a size larger than the cylinder l6, that notwithstanding the compressed fluid in the branch pipe 32, the justification bar will:in every case be raised to its uppermost position.

Having described my invention, I declare that what I claimv and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. in a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with means for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a'lineof matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands, said justifying means including a driving member common to all the spacebands in the line, of means controlled according, to the number of spacebands in the line adapted automatically to vary the force applied to said driving member.

2. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with means for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands, of means controlled directly by thespaceband releasing means adapted to adjust the force applied to the justifying means in accordance with the number of spacebands in the line.

3. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with a spaceband key and escapement reed for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands, of setting mechanism adapted to be operated at each releasing movement of the spaceband escapement reed, and means controlled by said setting mechanism adapted automatically to adjust the force applied to the justifying means according to the number of spacebands in the line.

4. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with a spaceband key and escapement reed for releasing spacebands from a magazineto be assembled with a line of matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands of a solenoid adapted to be energised at each releasing movement of the spaceband escapement reed, pawl and ratchet mechanism, adapted to be operated by said solenoid, and means controlled by said pawl and. ratchet mechanism adapted automatically to adjust the force applied to the justifying means according to the number of spacebands in the line.

5. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with means for releasing spacebands from. a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands, hydraulic means controlled directly by the spaceband releasing means adapted to adjust the force applied to the justifying means in accordance with the number of spacebands in the line.

6. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with means for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be as-- sembled with a line of matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands, of a rotary-valve adapted to be turned at each operation of the spaceband releasing means, a hydraulic system connected to said valve wherein the pressure is varied according to the posia tion to which the valve has been turned, and means whereby the hydraulic system controls the force imparted to the justifying means.

7. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with means for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices of a justification bar adapted to be operated by hydraulic means to justify a line of matrices and spacebands, a rotary valve adapted to be turned at each operation of the spaceband releasing means and a hydraulic system wherein the pres'sure is varied according to the position to which the valve has 7 been turned connected between said valve and justification bar so that the force applied to move the justiflcation bar is automatically adjusted according to the number 'of spacebands in the line.

8. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with means for. releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices, of a justification bar connected to a piston in a cylinder to which fluid is supplied under pressure, a rotary valve adapted to be turned at each operation of the spaceband releasing means, and a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said piston and cylinder and to said valve so that the pressure adapted to be turned at each operation cfthe A spaceband releasingmeans, a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said piston and cylinder, a container for supplying fluid to said pump, and a circulatory system for fluid under pressure extendingfbetween said pump, rotary valve and container so that a variation in the position of the rotary valve efiects a variation in the pressure of fluid supplied to said piston and cylinder.

10. In a typographical composing and casting. machine, the combination with means for releaspressure to said piston and cylinder, a container for supplying fluid to said pump,a pipe'for supplying fluid under pressure from the pump to the inlet of therotary valve, a valve in said pipe for, preventing reversal ofthe flow offluid in said pipe, outlet pipe connected betweenthe outlet recess in the valve casing and the fluid con-- leasing spacebandsfrom a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices, of a justification bar connected to a piston in a cylinder to which fluid is supplied under pressure, a hollow rotary" valve, a rotatable shaft on which said valve is mounted, driving means adapted to turn said shaft at each operation of the spaceband releasing means, clutch mechanism on said shaft adapted to connect and disconnect the" rotary valve to and from the driving means at each cycle of operations of the machine, a spring for returning said shaft and valve to an initial position, a casing for said valve with a fluid supply inlet communicating with the interior of the hollow valve, a slot in the valve communicating with an outlet recess in said casing, a pump for supplying 'fluid under pressure to said piston and cylinder, a container for supplying fluid to said pump, a pipe for supplying fluid under pressure from the pump to the inlet ofl the rotary I in said casing, a pump for supplying fluid under 1 valve,a valve in said pipe for preventing reversal 12. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with a spaceband key and escapement" reed for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands, of setting mechanism adapted to be operated at each releasing movement of the spaceband escapement reed, a rotary 'valve adapted to be operated by said setting mechanism, a hydraulic system connected to said valve wherein the pressure is carried according to the position to which the valve has been turned, and means whereby the hydraulic system controls the force imparted to the justitying means.

13. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination with a spaceband key andescapement reed for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices and means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands, of a solenoid adapted to be energised at each releasing movement of the spaceband escapement reed, pawl and ratchet mechanism, adapted to be operated by said solenoid, a rotary valve adapted to be turned at each operation of said pawl and ratchet mechanism, and means adapted to vary the pressure of a hydraulic system according to the position to which the valve has been turned connected between said valve and justification means so that the force applied to operate the justification means is automatically adjusted according to the number of spacebands in the line.

14. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a spaceband key and escapement reed for releasing spacebands I from a magazine to be assembled with a line of pressure to said piston and cylinder and to said valve so that the pressure of the fluid supplied to the piston and cylinder is varied according to the position to which the valve has been turned.

15. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a spaceband key and escapement reed for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices, means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands comprising a justiflcation bar connected to a piston in a cylinder to which fluid is supplied under pressure, a solenoid adapted to be energised at each releasing movement of the spaceband escapement reed, pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to be operated by said solenoid, a rotary valve adapted to be turned at each operation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said piston and cylinder, a container ior'supplying fluid-to said pump, and a circulatory system for fluid under pressure extending between said pump, rotary valve and container so that a variation in the position of the rotary valve effects a variation in the pressure of fluid supplied to said piston and cylinder.

16. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a spaceband key and escapement reed for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices, means for justifying theline of matrices and spaoebands comprising a justification bar connected to a piston in a cylinder to which fluid is supplied under pressure, a solenoid adapted to be energised at each releasing movement of the vspaceband escapement reed, pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to be operated by said solenoid, a hollow rotary valve adapted to be turned at each operation of the spaceband key and escapement reed, a casing for said valve with a fluid supply inlet communicating with the interior of the hollow valve, a slot in the valve communicating with an outlet recess in said casmg, a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said piston and cylinder, a container for supplying fluid to said pump, a pipe for supplying fluid under pressure from the pump to the inlet of the rotary valve, a valve in said pipe for preventing reversal of the flow of fluid in said pipe, an outlet pipe connected between the outlet recess in the valve casing and the fluid container, and a valve in the container through which fluid is drawn into the pump cylinder.

17. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a spaceband key and escapement reed for releasing spacebands from a magazine to be assembled with a line of matrices, means for justifying the line of matrices and spacebands comprising a justification bar connected to a piston in a cylinder to which fluid is supplied under pressure, a solenoid adapt ed to be energised at each releasing movement of the spaceband escapement reed, pawl and ratchet mechanism adapted to be operated by said solenoid, a hollow rotary valve, a rotatable shaft on which said valve is mounted, clutch mechanism on said shaft adapted to connect and disconnect the rotary valve to and from the pawl and ratchet mechanism at each cycle of operations of the machine, a spring for returning said shaft and valve to an initial position, a casing for said valve with a fluid supply inlet communicating with the interior of the hollow valve, a slot in the valve communicating with an outlet recess in said casing, a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said piston and cylinder, a container for supplying fluid to said pump, a pipe for supplying fluid under pressure from the pump to the inlet of the rotary valve, a valve in said pipe for preventing reversal of the flow i fluid in said pipe, an outlet pipe connected between the outlet reccss in the valve casing and the fluid container. and a valve in the container through which fluid is drawn into the pump cylinder.

18. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination as in claim 17 wherein the clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the rotary valve to and from the pawl and ratchet mechanism is controlled by a cam on the main cam shaft of the machine.

19. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination as in claim 17 wherein the pump for supplying fluid under pressure is controlled by a cam on the main cam shaft of the machine.

20. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination as in claim 17 wherein @the. escapement reed for releasing spacebands carries a contact which on upward movement of the escapement reed, closes an electrical circuit for energisingthe solenoid for operating the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

HERMANN BRANDENBURG. 

